Developing a just society based on equity and equal opportunities for all with respect for diversity.

Monday, July 3, 2017

The one with hindsight: 10 things we wish we’d known about Tamale in week one

We’re
now approaching the end of our project and have a lot of work to complete. It’s
been a wild ride from the moment we left Heathrow. On hindsight, we wondered
what we would be telling ourselves at the beginning of the project. So here are
ten things we wish we’d know about Tamale in week one.

1)Branch
out your food options; ask the locals where the buy the best yams. The best
food will always be in the most unexpected place.

Isobel, Katie, Daniel and Nuru at the radio station

2)Eggy
bread for breakfast is one of the best things about Ghana. It’s basically an
omelette in a pan-fried, buttery baguette. Establish the eggy bread stations
early on so you can make an early trip before work.

3)Prepare
to become overly-friendly. Even the natural extrovert will become overwhelmed
by the amount of attention you receive. Just revel in all the attention you get
and take the opportunity to have a few great conversations along the way. Those
chance meetings are among the moments you’ll never forget.

4)Buy
a spare phone out here; you can get a very nice little smartphone for a fraction of the cost in
Ghana.

5)Ghanaians
are very passionate people; you’ll have marriage proposals and constant
requests to be your friend. Take it all with a pinch of salt.

Bronte and Katie in Nanton-Kurug

6)Don’t
bring so many clothes, shampoo and conditioner: you can find it all in Tamale.
Albeit it is quite expensive with the budget you are given, but don’t expect to
be completely isolated from your home comforts.

7)But
bring as much hand sanitiser as you possibly can. It’s very expensive and very
necessary.

8)Bring
memory sticks as well. Group sharing of documents becomes a nightmare when you
have to do it over the internet.

9)Start
buying fabric and going to the seamstress early. You’ll be tempted to put it
off for weeks to search for the perfect fabric, but when you finally get around
to it, it’s addictive and you’ll wish you had more time to experiment with the
Ghanaian style.

The Team in Nayorku

10)Finally,
don’t be afraid to put your own stamp on the project. This was reinforced to us
at the beginning, but it was only by the end that we really got what it meant
to take initiative. Take time to learn what the project is, and then start
putting faith in your own opinions.